The Fracking Boom: Missing Answers http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=151930969&ft=1&f=151930969 A natural gas boom is under way in the United States, with more than 200,000 wells drilled in just under a decade. But people living on the front door step of the natural gas bonanza have a question: Are these wells creating harmful pollutants? NPR explores why there isn't an answer yet. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 17 May 2012 17:30:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg The Fracking Boom: Missing Answers http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=151930969&ft=1&f=151930969 yes Pennsylvania Doctors Worry Over Fracking 'Gag Rule' A new law grants doctors access to information about trade-secret chemicals used in natural gas drilling. Doctors say they need the information to treat patients who may have been exposed to chemicals. But the law also says doctors can't tell anyone else — not even other doctors — about what's in the formulas. Thu, 17 May 2012 17:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/17/152268501/pennsylvania-doctors-worry-over-fracking-gag-rule?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/17/152268501/pennsylvania-doctors-worry-over-fracking-gag-rule?ft=1&f=151930969 A new law grants doctors access to information about trade-secret chemicals used in natural gas drilling. Doctors say they need the information to treat patients who may have been exposed to chemicals. But the law also says doctors can't tell anyone else — not even other doctors — about what's in the formulas. 322 no A new law grants doctors access to information about trade-secret chemicals used in natural gas drilling. Doctors say they need the information to treat patients who may have been exposed to chemicals. But the law also says doctors can't tell anyone else — not even other doctors — about what's in the formulas.

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]]> Fracking's Methane Trail: A Detective Story Four years ago, an atmospheric scientist near Boulder, Colo., stumbled on surprising air pollution data: The region's levels of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, were far higher than anyone would have expected. What was going on? The search for an answer led straight to the natural gas and oil fields of northern Colorado. Thu, 17 May 2012 03:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/17/151545578/frackings-methane-trail-a-detective-story?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/17/151545578/frackings-methane-trail-a-detective-story?ft=1&f=151930969 Four years ago, an atmospheric scientist near Boulder, Colo., stumbled on surprising air pollution data: The region's levels of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, were far higher than anyone would have expected. What was going on? The search for an answer led straight to the natural gas and oil fields of northern Colorado. 331 no Four years ago, an atmospheric scientist near Boulder, Colo., stumbled on surprising air pollution data: The region's levels of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, were far higher than anyone would have expected. What was going on? The search for an answer led straight to the natural gas and oil fields of northern Colorado.

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]]> Town's Effort To Link Fracking And Illness Falls Short Many residents of Dish, Texas, blame the fracking operations that surround their tiny town for a host of health problems — from nosebleeds to cancer. The former mayor was so scared, he left town. But scientists who've studied Dish say there's not enough evidence to link natural gas operations to any illness. Wed, 16 May 2012 16:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152204584/towns-effort-to-link-fracking-and-illness-falls-short?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152204584/towns-effort-to-link-fracking-and-illness-falls-short?ft=1&f=151930969 Many residents of Dish, Texas, blame the fracking operations that surround their tiny town for a host of health problems — from nosebleeds to cancer. The former mayor was so scared, he left town. But scientists who've studied Dish say there's not enough evidence to link natural gas operations to any illness. 496 no Many residents of Dish, Texas, blame the fracking operations that surround their tiny town for a host of health problems — from nosebleeds to cancer. The former mayor was so scared, he left town. But scientists who've studied Dish say there's not enough evidence to link natural gas operations to any illness.

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]]> Medical Records Could Yield Answers On Fracking Is fracking making people sick? The question has ignited a national debate. A proposed study in northern Pennsylvania could help resolve the issue. By mining more than 10 years' worth of patient records, researchers hope to better understand the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on health. Wed, 16 May 2012 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/151762133/medical-records-could-yield-answers-on-fracking?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/151762133/medical-records-could-yield-answers-on-fracking?ft=1&f=151930969 Is fracking making people sick? The question has ignited a national debate. A proposed study in northern Pennsylvania could help resolve the issue. By mining more than 10 years' worth of patient records, researchers hope to better understand the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on health. 348 no Is fracking making people sick? The question has ignited a national debate. A proposed study in northern Pennsylvania could help resolve the issue. By mining more than 10 years' worth of patient records, researchers hope to better understand the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on health.

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]]> 'Close Encounters' With Gas Well Pollution Hundreds of thousands of natural gas wells have sprung up across the country. In Garfield County, Colo., the drilling rigs are so close to homes that some people call them "Close Encounters." When the gas boom began a decade ago, residents began asking: Is it safe to live this close? Their quest for answers became too polarizing to pursue. Tue, 15 May 2012 15:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/15/149998263/close-encounters-with-gas-well-pollution?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/15/149998263/close-encounters-with-gas-well-pollution?ft=1&f=151930969 Hundreds of thousands of natural gas wells have sprung up across the country. In Garfield County, Colo., the drilling rigs are so close to homes that some people call them "Close Encounters." When the gas boom began a decade ago, residents began asking: Is it safe to live this close? Their quest for answers became too polarizing to pursue. 556 no Hundreds of thousands of natural gas wells have sprung up across the country. In Garfield County, Colo., the drilling rigs are so close to homes that some people call them "Close Encounters." When the gas boom began a decade ago, residents began asking: Is it safe to live this close? Their quest for answers became too polarizing to pursue.

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]]> Sick From Fracking? Doctors, Patients Seek Answers Mysterious fumes wafting in from outside have repeatedly sickened several nurses at a rural Pennsylvania health clinic, forcing the clinic to temporarily relocate. Like many other people living near gas wells around the country, the clinic's staff wonder whether the industry in their backyard is making them sick. Tue, 15 May 2012 03:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/15/152268475/sick-from-fracking-doctors-patients-seek-answers?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/15/152268475/sick-from-fracking-doctors-patients-seek-answers?ft=1&f=151930969 Mysterious fumes wafting in from outside have repeatedly sickened several nurses at a rural Pennsylvania health clinic, forcing the clinic to temporarily relocate. Like many other people living near gas wells around the country, the clinic's staff wonder whether the industry in their backyard is making them sick. 468 no Mysterious fumes wafting in from outside have repeatedly sickened several nurses at a rural Pennsylvania health clinic, forcing the clinic to temporarily relocate. Like many other people living near gas wells around the country, the clinic's staff wonder whether the industry in their backyard is making them sick.

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]]> With Gas Boom, Pennsylvania Fears New Toxic Legacy Industry has ruined a lot of Pennsylvania's water. Coal mining companies hammered the state, leaving behind acidic water that turned thousands of miles of streams into dead zones. People in the state are looking for ways to make sure the fracking boom doesn't deal another blow to its water. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/14/149631363/when-fracking-comes-to-town-it-s-water-water-everywhere?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/14/149631363/when-fracking-comes-to-town-it-s-water-water-everywhere?ft=1&f=151930969 Industry has ruined a lot of Pennsylvania's water. Coal mining companies hammered the state, leaving behind acidic water that turned thousands of miles of streams into dead zones. People in the state are looking for ways to make sure the fracking boom doesn't deal another blow to its water. 507 no Industry has ruined a lot of Pennsylvania's water. Coal mining companies hammered the state, leaving behind acidic water that turned thousands of miles of streams into dead zones. People in the state are looking for ways to make sure the fracking boom doesn't deal another blow to its water.

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]]> Science And The Fracking Boom: Missing Answers People living on the front step of the natural gas boom have the same questions: What kinds of pollutants are entering our water and air, and are those pollutants making us sick? Explore key components of the natural gas production process — and the questions scientists are asking. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/05/150055142/science-and-the-fracking-boom-missing-answers?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/05/150055142/science-and-the-fracking-boom-missing-answers?ft=1&f=151930969 People living on the front step of the natural gas boom have the same questions: What kinds of pollutants are entering our water and air, and are those pollutants making us sick? Explore key components of the natural gas production process — and the questions scientists are asking. no People living on the front step of the natural gas boom have the same questions: What kinds of pollutants are entering our water and air, and are those pollutants making us sick? Explore key components of the natural gas production process — and the questions scientists are asking.

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]]> Worries Over Water As Natural Gas Fracking Expands Pennsylvania is at the center of a natural gas boom. But getting to the fuel requires a process called hydraulic fracturing that pumps water and chemicals far underground. One scientist is trying to find whether that's causing the high methane levels found in water near some gas wells. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/02/138820966/worries-over-water-as-natural-gas-fracking-expands?ft=1&f=151930969 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/02/138820966/worries-over-water-as-natural-gas-fracking-expands?ft=1&f=151930969 Pennsylvania is at the center of a natural gas boom. But getting to the fuel requires a process called hydraulic fracturing that pumps water and chemicals far underground. One scientist is trying to find whether that's causing the high methane levels found in water near some gas wells. 437 no Pennsylvania is at the center of a natural gas boom. But getting to the fuel requires a process called hydraulic fracturing that pumps water and chemicals far underground. One scientist is trying to find whether that's causing the high methane levels found in water near some gas wells.

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